Diau Charn (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
Lam Doi (Actor)
| Lo Wai (Actor)
| Chao Lei (Actor)
| Yeung Chi Hing (Actor)
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Customer Review of "Diau Charn (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"
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B. Seto
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February 8, 2008
See all my reviews
February 8, 2008
A fitting GOODBYE
|
Now that IVL/ Celestial had released all of Lin Dai's color movies made at Shaw Studio, it is with great sadness ( and elation too )to see "Diau Charn" finally made ( actually her FIRST color movie at Shaw ) its DVD appearance. Thank you, Celestial,for such a beautiful restoration, the color sparkles, her smile lit up the screen like no other actress of that era. Lin Dai's performance was truly deserving of her SECOND "Best Actress" award at the Asian Film Festival. Fans should also be thankful about the bonus disc that showed her old home and her godchild Fung Bo Bo's tearful reminensces. They surely don't make stars like Lin Dai anymore. I wonder if it is wishful thinking maybe Celestial will restore some of her other black and white movies made at Shaw's so we can at least have more "artifacts" from an era when Hongkong movies were not just about bullets and idiots running amuck ! If Celestial think that black and white movies from 50-60s have no commercial value nowadays, then "Diau Charn" would be a fitting farewell "gift" to all classic film fans. So, Goodbye Lin Dai, Goodbye Celestial ! May your other future DVD releases be as good as "Diau Charn". |
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Kevin Kennedy
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January 9, 2008
See all my reviews
January 9, 2008
A true film classic
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What a treat it is to have this lovingly restored version of "Diau Charn", the film that started the surge of huangmei operas. Lin Dai stars as Diau Charn, a poor girl who becomes a musician in the court of Minister Wang Yun (Yeung Chi Hing). Evil Prime Minister Dong Zhuo (Lo Wei) is using the martial skills of his adopted son, General Lu Bu (Chao Lei) to rule with an iron fist and disregard the interests of the emperor. Minister Wang wants to oppose Prime Minister Dong and cooks up a scheme to employ Diau Charn's beauty to that end. Diau Charn devotedly agrees to participate in the plot. Minister Wang then pretends that Diau Charn is his daughter and he agrees to give her in marriage to General Lu. Shortly thereafter Minister Wang agrees to give Diau Charn to the Prime Minister as a concubine. General Lu becomes furious, but Minister Wang plays the situation in a manner that pits General Lu against the Prime Minister. Diau Charn likewise skillfully manipulates the two men against each other. However, in the course of all this scheming Diau Charn falls in love with the General. The climax of the film features a sword dance by Lin Dai in which Diau Charn must decide whether to follow Minister Wang's orders and kill the General or to follow her own heart and spare his life. Director Li Han Hsiang beautifully captures this great moment of decision. The cast is excellent; 24 year old Lin Dai has never looked more angelic. The music is memorable and the costuming and lighting are superb. Director Li's use of color makes many frames of the film look gorgeous works of art. The DVD includes a short documentary on the digital remastering techniques used by Shaw Bros. to restore these old film gems. According to this documentary, "Diau Charn" was in worse shape than any other film in the Shaw library. Over 70% of the film stock had been attacked by mold. You would never know it from the look of this remastered version. It looks and sounds absolutely fresh. All fans of Lin Dai, all fans of huangmei opera, and all fans of true film classics should own this wonderful film. |
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